It was a Photo finish in the $1.5 million Hambletonian as Vivid Photo bested Classic Photo by 23/4 lengths in 1:52 3/5 yesterday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

Co-owned, trained and driven by Roger Hammer, Vivid Photo, who usually shows speed, was content to drop back and find a spot at the rail behind the 1-2 favorite Classic Photo.

“I planned all along to take back and follow Classic Photo,” said Hammer. “I was going to follow him the whole way to the head of the stretch. I figured if he carried me that far I knew my horse would brush good. He never gives it up.”

Muscle Memory (12-1) carried the field past a quick opening quarter in :27. Nearing the half, Classic Photo pulled off the pylons. still stalked by Vivid Photo (7-1 second choice) as Strong Yankee led past a half in :55.

Strong Yankee built a 11/2-length lead as Classic Photo and Vivid Photo made a three-wide move approaching three-quarters in 1:24.

At the top of the lane, Vivid Photo tipped off Classic Photo’s cover and the duel was on between the three-year-old sons of S Js Photo.

“I knew I had it won,” said Hammer. “I know the horse. He’s a strong finisher. He won’t give it up.”

“He raced good, but he didn’t seem quite as good or safe as he was last week,” said Erv Miller, trainer of Classic Photo. “You always want to win but we are having a great year.”

Known as the King of the County Fairs, Hammer races primarily on that circuit in his home state of Pennsylvania.

“We use the fairs as a good place to bring colts out to educate them,” said Hammer. “This horse [Vivid Photo] raced in the county fairs last year.”

Hammer always keeps all his two-year-olds eligible to the Hambletonian, but this is the first time he’s made the three-year-old payment on one of them.

“I told Todd [Schadel co-owner] I was going to make the Hambletonian payment and he said, ‘Do you think he’s good enough?’ and I said, ‘If he stays sound, he’s good enough.’ ”